PM launches Ruwanpura Expressway

 Highways Minister Johnston Fernando gestures as Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa readies to virtually launch construction of the first phase of the Ruwanpura Expressway during a ceremony at Temple Trees yesterday. Parliamentarians Vasudeva Nanayakkara and John Seneviratne were also present

• Construction of Rs. 54.7 b first phase of long-delayed expressway commences
• MR says Govt. committed to development despite COVID-19 
• Faults former administration for not taking project forward   

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday launched construction of the long-delayed Rs. 54.7 billion first phase of the Ruwanpura Expressway. 

Rajapaksa inaugurated the project virtually from Temple Trees, in line with strict COVID-19 guidelines, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. Speaking 

during the event the Prime Minister insisted that the Government would continue to carry out development projects despite challenges posed by the pandemic. 

“This project was supposed to begin in 2014 but we were not able to do so because we lost the elections. We hoped that the people who came to power would continue our development work, but unfortunately all they cared about was their own welfare. Undeterred we have moved forward with the project and it will fulfil the development aspirations of the public,” he said. 

In December Cabinet approved the Orders (Compensation) for Land Acquisition published by Extraordinary Gazette No. 1864/54 for the lands acquired under 18 projects implemented under the Ministry of Highways. This included the Ruwanpura Expressway. Under this people could appeal for additional compensation if their land was being taken for projected listed in the gazette. 

In July 2020 Cabinet decided to give the Ruwanpura Expressway Project (REP) to local contractors, changing previous plans that had earmarked the first phase to be awarded to a Chinese company. The China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC) was awarded the first section of the Ruwanpura Expressway to construct 26.3 km from Kahatuduwa to Ingiriya in 2016. 

However, it was earlier reported that the venture ran into trouble after the Government attempted to change some of the conditions at the start of this year, which included requiring the Chinese company to obtain the full cost of the project, and giving the Government more leeway on when repayments would start after the project was completed. The cost of the project has not yet been disclosed by the Road Development Authority (RDA). 

Accordingly, the proposal presented by Highways, Ports and Shipping Minister Johnston Fernando was given Cabinet approval to proceed with the Expressway construction, using the funds of local banks and the services of local construction companies. 

The REP from Kahatuduwa to Pelmadulla via Ratnapura (73.9 km) has been divided into three sections for implementation purposes. Section 1 is from Kahatuduwa to Ingiriya (26.3 km), Section 2 from Ingiriya to Ratnapura (26.2 km), and Section 3 from Ratnapura to Pelmadulla (21.4 km).

The project was proposed in 2014 under the Mahinda Chinthana Vision for the Future. Section 1 will be constructed by Maga Engineering Company at a cost Rs. 54.70 billion. Construction period is 30 months.

The construction of this expressway is expected to ease traffic congestion on the Panadura-Ratnapura (A-08) and Colombo-Wellawaya-Batticaloa (A-04) roads and facilitate more convenient travel. The Government has said it would bring socio-economic benefits to Districts such as Colombo, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Moneragala and Hambantota.